The Panthers of Tug Valley have clawed their way into to top ten of the MetroNews AARP Power Index with a pair of recent wins over Class-AAA opponents.
"We did have a couple of good wins but we might have been a little lucky against South Charleston and Logan," said Tug Valley coach Garland Thompson. "Those are two good wins right there.
"We struggled a little bit early in the season. It’s a long season, though. We seem to have found a stride. It gives us a lot of confidence and the feeling you can beat anybody.
"But we still have to go through teams like Westside, Bluefield. Tolsia and Chapmanville," Thompson said. "Our section and region will be very, very tough."
Tug Valley scored a season high 89 points in the win over South Charleston in the Hatfield/McCoy shootout at Williamson on Jan. 21. The Panthers had a large lead in that game only to see South Charleston rally with 28 4th quarter points to force overtime. Tug Valley would out score the Black Eagles by three in the extra session as guard Mikey Newsome Led the way with 23 points. Senior center Mason Pack scored a pair of key overtime baskets as he chipped in with 18.
Tug Valley had another overtime thriller in the win over Logan and Pack was brilliant in that as he scored a game high 27 points. Logan had a chance to win the game in regulation but a three point shot rimmed out at the buzzer. Tug would then outscore Logan 17-8 in overtime.
Thompson says he has a veteran team with great experience in the back court.
"Austin Brewer is our unsung hero," Thompson said. He is our point guard and he keeps the team together . Brewer is a very good shooter. Our third guard is Aaron Muncy who can do a lot of things."
All three of those starting guards are juniors. 6-9 senior Mason Pack leads the team.
"He is our guy and he is really having a great senior season," Thompson said of Pack.
In the MetroNews AARP Power Index, Bluefield is #1 among Class-AA teams with Tug Valley second followed by Wyoming East, Tolsia, Sissonville, Oak Hill, Westside and Webster County.
Tug Valley is grouped with Tolsia and Chapmanville in one sectional with Westside, Wyoming East and Oak Hill on the other side of the bracket in the other sectional. So just two of those four teams will reach the state tournament in Charleston.
And this will be Tug Valley’s last season at the Class-AA level as the schools population will dictate a drop to Class-A next year.
"Hopefully we can do something great this year and it will be stepping stone for us next year," Thompson said.
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